Do y’all meal plan?

[Magic Microbe]

I have heard these are a lot of chopping. Have you found that not to be the case?

I want my meal-in-a-box to involve relatively little prep on my part. Otherwise, it's not worth it to me.

Tonight we did a stir-fry meal-kit from Trader Joes. Honestly, stir-fry is pretty easy. But this was like open a bag and dump veggies into a pan, chop up some baked tofu & add it, add noodles & seasoning and done! That is my kind of meal kit.

So Home Chef has different options...they have quick meals (5-15 mins or so where everything is already cut or a salad) but that's only like 4 of the options a week. The rest are more involved ranging from 30 mins to cook to an hour. But as a vegetarian you wouldn't have the choice of the full set of options (there are 17 different options each week...we choose 2...but only 4 of those options are vegetarian). I wouldn't do any of the companies I have tried as a vegetarian.

I see a completely vegetarian one advertising on TV and it looks like its zero prep but I dont remember what its called.

[BonitaApplebum]

I agree, the prep is what is worth the money for me. I definitely don’t want to do lots of chopping for a meal kit.

[Magic Microbe]

I agree, the prep is what is worth the money for me. I definitely don’t want to do lots of chopping for a meal kit.

I just want the reprieve from figuring out what to cook. I don't really mind actually prepping the food.

[caribougrrl]

I just want the reprieve from figuring out what to cook. I don't really mind actually prepping the food.

I sometimes think I would like to have a business where people tell me what food they have around, and I send them instructions for what to make for the next couple of days.

[BonitaApplebum]

I sometimes think I would like to have a business where people tell me what food they have around, and I send them instructions for what to make for the next couple of days.

There’s an app (ok, several) for that!

https://www.escoffieronline.com/top-apps-for-finding-recipes-for-ingredients-you-already-have/

[caribougrrl]

There’s an app (ok, several) for that!

https://www.escoffieronline.com/top-apps-for-finding-recipes-for-ingredients-you-already-have/

I am not surprised.

[Magic Microbe]

I sometimes think I would like to have a business where people tell me what food they have around, and I send them instructions for what to make for the next couple of days.

Its hard to make boneless skinless chicken breasts very exciting and that's generally what I tend to have around. 

[ihop]

I create a list of meals by Friday for the upcoming week.  Anyone can write down a suggestion - I need to do quicker meals certain days so there is some editing.  I shop on Saturday for the week - but usually end up with a quick run to the store midweek. 

I might shuffle days around but, for the most part, we stick to the list.  Every now and then I just can't deal so we will have sandwiches.

It works for us.

I can't stomach more than a day of leftovers so prepping for the week or cooking in big batches doesn't work.

I cook dinner Sunday - Thursday (DH often does the protein on Sundays) and I usually enjoy it.  I could not do it if we didn't plan.

DH is rarely home before 7 and often still on the phone when he gets home.  DD is busy with school and activities. We try to catch up with each other during dinner.

[Chasing Amy]

Its hard to make boneless skinless chicken breasts very exciting and that's generally what I tend to have around. 

I follow a few cooking pages on Instagram and I've found some good inspiration from the recipes posted. I need a lot of variety in my diet, definitely can't eat the same thing day after day.

Edited to add the IG pages I like:

smittenkitchen
ambitiouskitchen (you have to weed through some of her "wellness" and "happy pregnancy" posts, but her recipes are solid)
pinchofyum
cookieandkate (vegetarian)

[moroccangirl]

I follow a few cooking pages on Instagram and I've found some good inspiration from the recipes posted. I need a lot of variety in my diet, definitely can't eat the same thing day after day.

Edited to add the IG pages I like:

smittenkitchen
ambitiouskitchen (you have to weed through some of her "wellness" and "happy pregnancy" posts, but her recipes are solid)
pinchofyum
cookieandkate (vegetarian)

I love cookie and Kate. DH won’t eat fish taco unless I make her mango salsa.

[Run Amok]

Amy listed some good ones! I also follow
"healthyish" from Bon Appetit
yottam ottelenghi
heidi swanson (101 cookbooks)
J Kenji Alt Lopez (from the food lab)

I agree it's a great low-key way to get some inspiration. Of course, none of the above are great boneless/skinless chicken breast jazzer-uppers.   

[Magic Microbe]

But that's the whole point...I don't want to put energy into it! That's why I pay to have someone else do it for me.

[moroccangirl]

It’s the 19th and my meal plan has worked perfectly!! Only a couple of times I had to change things but it wasn’t a problem. DH wanted to try a new healthy place that opened on camp today. We never made it so I scratched out tomorrow’s dinner on my calendar and replaced it with take out from the new place.

[Run Amok]

I just wanted to record this somewhere because it was good. Could be lunch/breakfast/dinner. Based on Kaelyns Kitchen master breakfast casserole recipe.

1 lb bag of trader Joe's fresh cauliflower rice
1 onion
2 large garlic gloves
A big pour of cumin & chili powder
16 oz lf cottage cheese
2.5 cups shredded mexican blend cheese (I like trader joes)
1 small can black olives
1 small can diced green chilis
6 eggs

Sautee the veggies until really broken down & dry. Save half the batch for next time. Layer half into the bottom of an 8x8 pan. Then add 4 oz of cheese. Sprinkle the peppers and olives. Break eggs & mix with cottage cheese & 4oz of the shredded cheese. Poor on top of veggies. Top w. remaining 2 oz cheese.

Bake for 20-30 mins at 375.

350 calories 26 g p, 23 g f, 12 g c per serving. You can save about 100 calories per serving by using egg whites and lf cheese.

Top with sourcream and salsa or enchilada or ranchero sauce.

[BonitaApplebum]

Mmm that sounds good, and very flexible too.

[Run Amok]

Yep, very flexible in terms of the flavor profile. She has a lot of suggestions of various mix-ins to change up the flavor profile. https://kalynskitchen.com/breakfast-casserole-many-wayswho-knew/

[BonitaApplebum]

That’s my favorite kind of recipe now - a general formula I can adapt to whatever I have.

[diablita]

It's going on my list too.  I always have a bag of TJ's frozen cauli rice on hand but I can grab some fresh next time.